WASHINGTON, D.C. — GDC-0032, a potent, next-generation PI3 kinase inhibitor, demonstrated early signs of efficacy for patients with cancers driven by mutations in the PI3 kinase alpha gene, according to first in-human results presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013, held in Washington, D.C., April 6-10.

“We’ve shown that this novel agent is well tolerated,” said Dejan Juric, M.D., lead investigator of the study at the Termeer Center for Targeted Therapies at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. “We’ve shown that the safety profile is favorable and that the side effects are predictable. Early results show that the drug has very promising activity, particularly in tumors that have activating mutations in PI3 kinase alpha.”

GDC-0032, which is being developed by Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, targets a family of molecules called PI3 kinases. The drug is distinguished by its enhanced in-vitro activity against the mutant form of the family member called PI3 kinase alpha, which is known to be present in approximately 40 percent of hormone receptor-positive breast cancers.

“We currently have no approved therapies that directly target this critically important component of cancer cells,” Juric said.

The drug was well tolerated, and side effects consisted of hyperglycemia, diarrhea, fatigue and nausea. The only study-related grade 4 adverse event was hyperglycemia in the 16-mg dose cohort, according to Juric.

“Those are very common and predictable side effects,” he said. “In particular, hyperglycemia is a so-called ‘on-target’ side effect because PI3 kinase alpha plays an important role in glucose metabolism. All agents that effectively block PI3 kinase alpha lead to some level of glucose elevation.”

The results also showed that four of six patients with breast cancers driven by a PI3 kinase alpha mutation had a partial response according to RECIST criteria, which is an objective measure of tumor shrinkage, according to Juric. In addition, the researchers observed a partial response in one patient with lung cancer driven by a PI3 kinase alpha mutation, as well as objective tumor shrinkage in a patient with HER2-amplified breast cancer.

“This trial is an important step forward in getting us closer to developing an agent that shuts down PI3 kinase alpha effectively,” Juric said. “It is impressive how frequently PI3 kinase alpha mutations are found in human cancers. This is one of the first agents to have shown selectivity and encouraging signs of efficacy when we target that particular mutation.”

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Follow the AACR on Twitter: @aacr#aacrFollow the AACR on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/aacr.orgAbout the American Association for Cancer ResearchFounded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world’s first and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and cure cancer. AACR membership includes more than 34,000 laboratory, translational and clinical researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and cancer advocates residing in more than 90 countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, biology, diagnosis and treatment of cancer by annually convening more than 20 conferences and educational workshops, the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting with more than 17,000 attendees. In addition, the AACR publishes eight peer-reviewed scientific journals and a magazine for cancer survivors, patients and their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As the scientific partner of Stand Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration and scientific oversight of team science and individual grants in cancer research that have the potential for near-term patient benefit. The AACR actively communicates with legislators and policymakers about the value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer. For more information about the AACR, visit www.AACR.org.